Cataract Surgery Steps – What to Expect During the Procedure

1. Cataract Surgery Steps – What to Expect During the Procedure By understanding what is involved during cataract surgery, any fears you have can be reduced, helping you feel more relaxed on the day of your procedure. The eye is responsible for reading light and pressure. It is a sensory organ that provides you with vision. Cataract surgery in London will always start with an eye exam. Your eyes will be evaluated using diagnostic testing to determine if you have a cataract and if surgery is the right option for you. In some cases, you may require laser surgery to improve your vision without removing the actual cataract. Cataracts are clouding of the eye lens by a qualified ophthalmologist. Cataract screening is similar to a traditional eye exam. Your doctor will review your medical history and ensure you don't have any new health issues since your last exam. They will perform a visual acuity test to measure how you see letters. Anyone who wears glasses will find the examination pretty straight forward. If a cataract is identified, you may need a closer examination using a microscope that examines the cornea, lens and iris. In some cases, the ophthalmologist will dilate the eye so they can examine the back of the eye. In addition to identifying if there is a cataract, it also checks the suitability and health of your eye for surgery. Cataract surgery has advanced over the years and is a safe and very common procedure. It starts with the surgeon giving you a numbing injection or numbing eye drops before the surgery starts. Often you will be given additional medication to help you remain relaxed throughout the procedure. The surgeon then uses a blade or laser to make a small incision in the eye. Using tiny ultrasound devices, the surgeon is able to break up the lens, followed by a tiny suction to remove the fragments from your eye. A new lens is then placed in the eye. In some cases, you may need a small stitch. Patients are often given an eye shield over the treated eye to protect the eye against dust and dirt. There are two ways your ophthalmologist may perform cataract surgery. One uses a laser and the other does not. Laser assisted procedures has the doctor placing a number of imaging devices over the eye to map the shape and surface of the eye, this information is then sent to a computer. The computer calculates where the incisions need to be made, along with their depth. Some cataracts not only cloud the lens, they also stiffen and harden the lens. Hardened lenses are more difficult to remove during surgery and may need a larger incision to allow the surgeon to effectively remove all the pieces. If you have a laser procedure, ultrasound waves can be used to soften the lens prior to surgery. This is done during the eye mapping stage. In order for your cataract to be removed, the surgeon must make an incision in the eye. You will not feel the cut, though you may feel some pressure. The surgeon then proceeds to break up the cataract. Using a small pen-like device, the surgeon places it in the eye. The device emits sound waves that move through the lens, causing it to break into small pieces that can be removed easier. In advanced cases, your cataract may not be able to be broken down and will need to be removed whole. This will require a larger incision. Finally, your cataract is safely removed using a suction device and a new artificial lens is put in its place. About Us: Mahi Muqit is a leading consultant ophthalmologist, cataract and vitreoretinal surgeon at two private clinics in London, United Kingdom. He provides patients with superior service and support with a range of surgical procedures to meet their eye sight requirements. He has built up a solid reputation for his eye services in the London area as an expert eye doctor and surgeon offering surgical retina, medical retina and complex cataract surgery. He also offers surgery to patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy. Mahi Muqit is a member of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, a member of the British and Eire Association of Vitreoretinal Surgeons and the UK and Ireland Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. To find out more, visit https://www.retinasurgeon.uk.com/.